Violin-piano.



P. POMBRO. VIOLIN PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.6, 1909.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. POMERO.

VIOLIN PIANO. grrmoumn FILM 2212.5, 1909.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P ul

O D 0 g i rut Halli: IITIRI ca wunmcmn, D. z.

Uivitrn srarns rga nnr OFFIGE.

PAOLO POIVIERQ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VIOLIN-PIANO.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it lrnown that I, PAOLO PoMERo, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Violin-Piano, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in violin pianos and isdesigned more particularly for the production of the tones of the violintype of musical instrument, the invention being adapted to be usedeither as a violin type of instrument 7967 so or as an adjunct to thepiano type of instrument wherein the strings are set in vibration byblows delivered from suitable hammers.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for setting thestrings in vibration by means simulating the action of the bow upon thestrings of the violin and to obtain the same quality as is obtained bythe use of the bow upon the strings of the violin type of musicalinstrument.

In accordance with the present invention each tone is produced by aseparate string, all of the strings being mounted upon a suitablesounding board after the manner of mounting the strings of the violintype of musical instrument upon the body of the violin. The strings areset in vibration at will by means of rotatable bodies or wheelspreferably made of a special composition and these wheels are shaped andcaused to move into contact with the strings in such manner as to firsttouch the strings lightly and then rapidly increase in extent of contactwith the strings to produce a full and powerful vibration of the latter.Furthermore, the relation of the axis of rotation of the wheel to thestring and the direction of approach of the wheel to the string alsoform important features of the present invention. Also there is provideda means for controlling the sound produced, as to its volume, and thisalso forms an important feature of the present invention.

The improved violin piano will be best understood from a considerationof the fol lowing detail description taken in connec tion with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in whichdrawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation of so much of a musical instrument embodyingthe present invention as is necessary for an understand- Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed February 5, 1909.

Patented A11 2, 1910.

Serial No. 476,248.

ing of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown inFig. 1, some parts being omitted and other parts added. Fig. 3 is anelevation showing one of the strings and the operating mechanismtherefor, and also showing the damper mechanism, the scale being largerthan that of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4c is a top plan view of one of thebowing wheels with one of the strings with which the wheel coacts shownin section. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line AB of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a sounding board 1 which itwill be understood is suitably shaped for the purposes of the invention,and this shape will be de termined by the varying length of the stringsindicated at 2, which strings will of course vary in thickness, length,and material in accordance with the pitch and tones I required, thesounding board also being constructed with a view to the strainsdue tothe tension under which the strings are placed. The strings 2 are heldfrom the sounding board 1 by a bridge or by bridges 3, whether one ormore bridges be used being determined by circumstances. Any suitablemeans may be provided for tuning the strings, such for instance as pegsa around which one end of each of the strings is wound and each peg atcarries a worm wheel 5 engaged by a. worm 6 on a shaft carrying amanipulating button 7. Of course any other means of stretching andthereby tuning the strings may be employed. the means shown being simplyillustrative.

Along the face of the sounding board and spaced therefrom are twoparallel bars 8 and 9 upheld by end frames 10 supported in any suitablemanner which however is not shown in the drawings. There may of coursebe intermediate upholding frames 10 as needed although such intermediateframes are not shown in the drawings.

Extending through the bars 8 and 9 at appropriate points are uprightshafts 11 adjacent each to a respective string 2 but located in a planeperpendicular to the face of the sounding board displaced to one side ofa similar plane including the respective string 2 which last named planeis parallel with the first named plane and is also perpendicular to theface of the sounding board.

Near the upper end each shaft 11 is expanded into an annular ledge 12 onwhich is seated a wheel 13 constituting a bowing head and confined tothe ledge by a nut lat applied to the threaded upper end 15 of the shaft11 and having interposed between it and the wheel a washer 16.

As shown in the drawings, each bowing head 13 is frusto-conoidal inshape, that is the active face curves from the basic end of the bowinghead toward the axis of rotation of the head, this being a shapeespecially adapted for the purposes of this invention, although othershapes of bowing heads may be used though not with the same advantage.The bowing heads 13 may be as small as three-quarters of an inch indiameter and as large as two inches in diameter, although these sizesare not to be taken as definite or necessary sizes or as extreme limitsof size.

I11 instruments of the character to which this invent-ion relates it iscustomary to use free resin or resin lightly cemented to the bowingelement. Free resin or resin easily dislodged from the bowing elementproduces an objectionable dust within the instrument. In order to avoidthis accumulation of dust and to make the bowing heads of a durablenature they are made from a composition of matter of which the followingmay be taken as well adapted for the purpose.

Venetian turpentine 10% Pure resin 20% Alum 10% Caoutchouc 30% Powderedglass 10% Glue 20% The shafts 11 are each mounted for longi tudinal androtative movement, the rotative movement being about the longitudinalaxis of the shaft, and these shafts are so related each to a respectivestring 2 that when the shaft is raised in the direction of its lengththe bowing head 13 carried thereby will be brought into engagement witha string 2. The first portion of the bowing head to engage the string isthe lower edge thereof which is the portion of the bowing head ofgreatest diameter. The string is set in vibration and a continuousmovement of the bowing head in the direction of its axis of rotationwill cause an increase in the extent of contact of the bowing head withthe string lengthwise of the latter, this resulting in a correspondingincrease in the amplitude of vibration. It will be observed that in theparticular showing of the drawings the shafts 11 are all upright whilethe strings 2 slant toward the shafts so that if continued long enoughthe upper ends of the strings would ultimately be brought into thevertical plane of all the shafts 11. Of course if the strings were madevertical and the shafts 11 were slanted correspondingly the same resultwould be brought about. However for mechanical reasons it is preferredto make the shafts 11 upright and the strings 2 slanting in a mannersimilar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

In Fig. 4 the direction of rotation of one of the bowing heads 13 isindicated by the arrow and the relation of the bowing head to a string 2and the relation of both the bowing head and the string to the face ofthe sounding board 1, shown in dotted lines in Fig. is illustrated, thisshowing being in a manner diagrammatic. Now when a bowing head 13 iselevated and is brought. into engagement with its respective string 2 itdoes not engage the string on a diameter of the wheel perpendicular to,the face of the sounding board 1 but the bowing head engages the stringat a point displaced from such diameter so that the string in itsvibration will tend to remain in contact with the periphery of thebowing head and to increase the extent of contact lengthwise of thestring thus very materially increasing the pull of the bowing head uponthe string and thereby causing a correspondingly more pronouncedvibration of the string. Whether this be the true explanation of theaction of the bowing head upon the string or not, it is found inpractice that the tone of the string is very materially improved bydisplacing the bowing head with relation to the string in the mannerdescribed over and above the effect produced when the string is engagedby the bowing head in a diametric plane of the bowing head perpendicularto the face of the sounding board 1.

-While the bowing head 13 has been de scribed as made of a certaincomposition or similar composition it will be understood that it may bemade of wood or metal or the like and be peripherally coated with suchcomposition.

To facilitate the assembling of the parts the bar 8 may be provided witha removable front section 8 held to the bar 8 by screws 17 and where ashaft 11 passes through the bar 8 a suitable bearing in the form of abushing 18 may be provided. It will be understood of course that the bar9 may have a similar bushing.

Between the two bars 8 and 9 each shaft carries a pulley 19 fast on theshaft and preferably having its lower face rounded as indicated at 20 tobear against a washer 21 of felt or leather or other suitable sounddeadening material, the engagement of the pulley 19 with the washer 21,which latter in turn rests on the bar 9, determines the lower limit oftravel of the shaft 11.

Surrounding the shaft 11 between the upper face of the pulley 19 and theunder face of the bar 8 is a spring 22, there being an interposed washer23 between the upper end of this spring and the under face of the bar S.The normal tendency of the spring 22 is to maintain the pulley 19 inengagement with the washer 21. This spring will yield to any sufficientforce tending to elevate the shaft 11. The lower end of each shaft 11extends below the bar 9 and may there be rounded as indicated at 24; tobe engaged by a cup bearing 25 on the end of a rod 26 under the controlof a lever 27 which as shown in the drawings may be taken as indicativeof either a suitable key or as an intermediate member between a key andthe rod 26.

T he actuating structure represented by the rod 26 and lever 27 is notto be taken as representative necessarily of an actual structure butonly indicative of a suitable connection between the keys of theinstrument and the shafts 11 since such connections will depend uponwhether the shafts 11 are to be actuated from the keys used inconnection with an ordinary piano mechanism when the subject matter ofthe present invention is used as an attachment or adjunct to an ordinarypiano or whether the subject matter of the present invention is to beincorporated in a distinct instrument separate from any otherinstrument.

The driving mechanism for the several shafts 11 whereby rotative motionis imparted to the shafts is indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 and while thediving mechanism there shown is a practical mechanism it is to beunderstood that the invention is by no means limited to the showing ofthe drawings since other driving mechanisms may be used as theexigencies of the installation of the invention in other types ofmusical instruments, or as a distinctive instrument may be used.

In the structure shown-in the drawings there is provided a motor 2% ofany suitable type whether electric or pneumatic or a water motor of aspring or weight motor or in fact any type of motor. Consequently theshowing of this motor is purely diagrammatic. The motor shaft 25 carriesone or more bevel gear wheels 26' each in mesh with another gear wheel27 upon a shaft 28 ca rrying a pulley 29 which as shown in the drawingsis indicated as a grooved pulley preferably though not necessarily ofgreater diameter than the pulleys 19. A belt 30 is passed around the pulley 29 and thence to a bank of pulleys 19 upon a series of shafts 11.The belt 30 is passed in opposite directions around adjacent pulleys ofthe series so that adjacent pulleys rotate in opposite directions andthe strings 2 are spaced so that the relation of each string to a bowinghead or wheel 13 shall be that indicated in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 2 there are indicated two separate series of shafts 11 andbowing heads 13 driven by the one shaft 25', but it will be understoodthat any suitable number of series of shafts 11 may be employed and maybe driven by a single motor 2 1 or as many motors as necessary may beused. These are all constructive details which have no necessary bearingupon the invention.

In order to modify the sound emitted by the strings 2 at the will of theoperator suitable damping devices may be employed. Instead of directlydamping the strings 2 the bridge or bridges 3 may be damped and for thispurpose there are provided arms 31, 32 preferably arranged in pairs uponsuitable brackets 33 and each lever 3l-32 carries a damping head 34-,preferably of felt or other suitable material in operative relation tothe bridge in such manner that either or both the damping heads 34; maybe brought into contact with the bridge 3. in this manner piano andpianissimo effects may be produced. Eacn lever 31 may be mounted uponashaft 85 and each lever upon a shaft 36 so that all the levers 31 maybe controlled at one time and all the levers 52 controlled at one time.The shaft 35 carries an arm 3'? fast thereto and a shaft 36 carries anarm 38 fast thereto. Each arm 37 and 38 is under the control of arespective link 89 leading to a suitable actuating means under thecontrol of the operator. Such actuating means may consist of a suitablepedal or stop. not shown, for each shaft 35 and 86 so that the operatormay at will cause all the damper levers 31 to be actuated or all thedamper levers 32 to be actuated or the operator may actuate all thelevers 31 and 32 at the same time.

The means described for the softening of the tones emitted by the activestrings 2 as reinforced by the sounding board will be found effectivebut this does not preclude the use of other means for softening the toneand it will therefore be understood that the invention not limited tothe particular means described for this purpose.

it will be observed that because of the peculiar formation of the bowingheads or wheels 13 and their relation to the strings 2 the effect of thebowing heads upon the strings is the same as that of the ordinary bowupon the strings of the violin or other like type of musical instrumentand it is within the power of the operator by regulating the extent ofmovement of the shafts 11 in the direction of their lengths to determinethe strength of tone emitted by the active strings the same as is doneby the skilled violinist.

It is also possible with the presentinvention by properly proportioningthe strings and other parts of the instrument to produce in oneinstrument several different effects, such for instance as producing inthe one instrument the tones of a violin, the tones of a violoncello,and the tones of a base viol, so that the operator may at will producethe effects of the several instruments either individually or togetheras may be desired.

What is claimed is 1. A stringed musical instrument provided withrotatable bowing heads shaped to engage the strings to varying extentsand movable toward the strings in the direction of the axis of rotationof the heads.

2. A stringed musical instrument pro vided with rotatable bowing headseach movable toward a string in the direction of the axis of rotation ofthe head.

3. A stringed musical instrument provided with rotatable bowing headseach movable toward a string in the direction of the axis of rotation ofthe bowing head, the portion of the head engaging the string approachingthe latter at an angle less than a right angle.

1. A stringed musical instrument provided with a separate rotatablebowing head for each string, each bowing head having its active portionshaped to engage the string with a gradually increasing area of contacton the movement of the head toward the string.

5. A stringed musical instrument provided with a rotatable bowing headof conical form with its active face curving from the basic end towardthe axis of rotation of said head.

6. A stringed musical instrument provided with a rotatable bowing headmovable in the direction of its axis of rotation.

7. A stringed musical instrument provided with a rotatable bowing headmovable in the direction of its axis of rotation, said axis of rotationapproaching a string at an acute angle.

8. A stringed musical instrument provided with a rotatable bowing headmovable in the direction of its axis of rotation, said axis of rotationand a string approaching at an acute angle and the said head decreasingin diameter in the direction of the approach of the axis of rotationtoward the string but more rapidly than such approach of the axis ofrotation toward the string.

9. A stringed musical instrument pro-' vided with a rotatable bowinghead having its axis of rotation approximately parallel with but not inany plane passing through the string to be engaged by said head.

10. A stringed musical instrument provided with strings mounted on asounding board, and rotatable bowing heads, one for each string, eachbowing head being movable toward a string with its axis of rotation in aplane perpendicular to the sounding board and displaced with relation tobut parallel with a plane perpendicular to the sounding board andpassing through the string.

11. A stringed musical instrument provided with rotatable bowing heads,a shaft for each head mounted for rotative movement and for movement inthe direction of its axis, means for rotating the shafts and headscarried thereby, and means for moving the shafts individually in thedirection of their axes at will.

12. A stringed musical instrument provided with rotatable bowing heads,a shaft for each head mounted for rotative movement and for movement inthe direction of its axis, means for rotating the shafts and headscarried thereby, comprising a pulley on each shaft, a belt engaging theseveral pulleys of a series of shafts simultaneously and means fordriving the belt, and means for moving the shafts individually in thedirection of their axes at will.

18. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sounding board, stringsthereon, a bridge between the strings and sounding board, means forsetting chosen ones of the strings in vibration, and means for modifyingthe sound comprising dampers, one for each side of the bridge and meansfor operating either or both dampers at will.

14. A stringed musical instrument provided with rotatablefrusto-conoidal bowing heads movable toward the strings in the directionof the axis of rotation.

15. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sounding board, stringsthereon, a bridge between the strings and sounding board, means forsetting chosen ones of the strings in sustained vibration, and means formodifying the sound comprising dampers, one for each side of the bridge,and means for operating either or both dampers at will.

16. A stringed musical instrument provided with means for setting thestrings in vibration comprising bowing heads each having in its activeportion a material composed of caoutchouc, glue, powdered glass, alum,and resin.

17. A stringed musical instrument provided with means for setting thestrings in vibration comprising bowing heads each composed ofcaoutchouc, glue, powdered glass, alum and resin.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PAOLO POMERO.

Witnesses CEASAR MARTINI, EMMA D. CHAPPELL.

